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Posted by jessia on March 21, 2008 at 3:22 am
 The American Humanist Association will celebrate Philip Pullman this summer as International Humanist Awardee. “His popular and sometimes controversial works champion such humanist values as kindness, love, courage, courtesy, intellectual curiosity, and opposition to organized dogma and tyranny.” The World Humanist Congress Evening Awards Banquet will take place Saturday, 7 June at L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington D.C. Read more.
“The AHA actively educates the public about Humanism, brings Humanists together for mutual support and action, defends the civil liberties and constitutional freedoms of Humanists-indeed of all peoples-and leads both local and national Humanist organizations toward progressive societal change.”
Registration information can be found here.
Posted by jessia on March 20, 2008 at 8:20 am
Philip Pullman will be speaking at the Oxford Literary Festival Monday, 31st March to launch upcoming title Once Upon a Time in the North. “The book recounts the very first meeting of these two heroes - Lee Scoresby and his hare daemon, Hester, crash land their trading balloon on to Novy Odense, a port in the far Arctic North, and so find themselves right in the middle of a political powder keg that threatens to explode into a street-fight. Honour is at stake and Lee is not a man to duck a matter of honour.”
Tickets (£15, or £10 for children) are available at the Oxford Playhouse.
Posted by jessia on March 20, 2008 at 8:12 am
 Philip Pullman speaks to free lance journalist A.S.H. Smyth in this Tuesday’s Spectator about his upcoming book Once Upon a Time in the North and especially Lee Scoresby. Moving beyond God and towards British politics, globalisation, and the environment, Pullman arrives at a story where Lee and Iorek Byrnison, “finding that their interests mutually coincide with those of a Dutch merchant whose cargo has been illegally impounded, pool their strengths, automatically and almost wordlessly, in defence of the little man,” upon inspiration from The Magnificent Seven. Fans will also discover the origins of Lee’s balloon and Winchester rifle. Read more
Once Upon a Time in the North comes out April 3rd.
Posted by Ian on March 19, 2008 at 9:49 pm
 Chris Bond of the Yorkshire Post newspaper spoke to Philip Pullman recently, when Pullman visited Leeds University on World Book Day to give a lecture entitled Poco a Poco, concerning children’s literature. Bond’s article features discussion with Pullman over a number of issues, and while there is little revealed that is particularly new, it is certainly well worth a read. Read the article here.
Posted by jessia on March 17, 2008 at 8:09 am
 Susannah Herbert from the Sunday Times spoke to Philip Pullman recently to discuss his upcoming release, Once Upon a Time in the North and reveals a number of concerns that are informing not only the author’s writing but also his lifestyle and ideas on the state of things. Drawing upon his childhood imagination of a heroic father and his favourite Western, The Magnificent Seven, he says about this story dedicated to the much loved Texan cowboy Lee Scoresby, “It wasn’t until I was some way into it that I realised: it’s about honour… Of course.”
More pressing, however, is the environmental message behind the story: ‘While the evil forces of the trilogy were all linked to an oppressive theocracy, their equivalents in Once Upon a Time in the North are allied to an oil corporation that is trying to buy up politicians and subvert the rule of law.’ Discussing the worldwide obsession with the market, Pullman compares the violence of imperialism in Roman Antiquity to the globally destructive damage done today and recalls a time just before his birth when consumption was controlled by wartime rations. “Humanity needs to evolve morally if it is to survive. We have to change and it will be very uncomfortable. But if we don’t, the alternative will be worse.” Read more.
Posted by krebbe on February 19, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Philip Pullman is to contribute to a new children’s comic beginning in May. From publisher David Fickling and backed by Random House, The DFC will feature brand new content from top contributors and will be available to order online from http://www.thedfc.co.uk. Pullman’s strip is reported to tell the tale of a mysterious boy sailing in the Pacific. He reports:
“I’ve always loved comics, and when I first heard about the DFC, I leapt at the chance of being involved. The chance to work in this wonderfully fluid and exciting form was too good to miss. I’ve had a lot of fun with the story of John Blake, and I hope readers will enjoy it as well as all the other great things in the DFC.”
Further information on the story is a closely guarded secret and will only be revealed to subscribers when the comic arrives at their doors on May 30th. Details on the comic can be found at thebookseller.com and in this PR Newswire press release.
Posted by Ian on February 16, 2008 at 9:41 pm
According to the Oxford Mail, Philip Pullman is to appear at the Oxford Literary Festival, to discuss amongst other things his new book Once Upon A Time In The North which is due for release on April 4th. “Mr Pullman’s appearance at Oxford Town Hall on March 31 will ensure a memorable launch for both his book and the festival.” Hosted by Christ Church, the festival will see many speakers and authors-in-residence - including a strong representation of local writers - including playwright Tom Stoppard (originally hired to draft The Golden Compass’ screenplay), geneticist Richard Dawkins ( The God Delusion), PD James ( The Children of Men), fiction critic Peter Kemp, and many more. Read more.
Posted by Ian on January 29, 2008 at 3:18 pm
As a an honourary professor at the University of Bangor in north Wales, Philip Pullman is to speak at the establishment on February 9th along with several other speakers. The day is entitled ‘Upon My Word!’ and is a celebration of literature at Bangor. It’s an open event beginning at 9am and all are welcome. You can read about it here.
Posted by Ian on January 22, 2008 at 3:35 am
Last Saturday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper featured an exclusive article about a conversation between Philip Pullman and journalist Andrew Simms about Pullman’s environmentalism. Amongst other things Pullman speaks of the first time he realised that there was a problem with the climate and environment. You can read the article in full here.
Posted by Ian on December 22, 2007 at 2:55 am
Philip Pullman last night spoke to John Mullan and members of the Guardian Book Club at the Brunei Gallery in London. Pullman spoke about Milton, morality and heading for the Arctic, and also took questions from the audience.You can listen to a podcast of the full discussion here.
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